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Comparison between homicides committed by women and homicides committed by men in Spain. Forensic Sciences Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Sciences Club, this week we present the paper “Does she kill like he kills? Comparison of homicides committed by women with homicides committed by men in Spain” by Santos-Hermoso, J.; Quintana-Touza, J. M.; Medina-Bueno, Z. and Gómez-Colino, M. R. (2021), in which authors make an analysis of the differences between how women kill and how men kill.

Criminal behavior studies have shown that most crimes, especially violent crimes, are committed by men.

In the Spanish context, the average rate of crime committed by men between 2010 and 2018 was five times higher than the ones committed by women.

Despite the differences reflected in this data, over the past 20 years there has been a steady increasement of the number of women convicted because of violent crimes. And not only in Spain; in fact, Finland found an increasement in homicides committed by women between 1995 and 2004.

Although the study of women as victims of homicide has been widely studied, the same does not happen if we think of them as victimizers. This is so, mainly, due to the low level of prevalence of female murderers. And within the group of investigations on homicidal women, there are even fewer that analyze the homicides committed by them outside the family sphere.

But what do we know so far? Well, one of the main conclusions drawn from these comparative studies is that women kill mainly members of their family, while men tend to kill acquaintances and/or strangers.

Regarding the gender of the victims, most studies show that both men and women prefer the latter.

On the other hand, it seems that young victims tend to be associated with women, mainly because of the involvement of them in filicide cases.

Regarding the characteristics of the aggressors, literature speaks about the fact that women tend to be married or in a relationship and live with other people, while men tend to be single and live alone. Another fact would be that men tend to have more criminal records than women do.

When it comes about the consumption of alcohol and drugs, it is also more likely that men have consumed some substance at the moment of the incident, while, regarding mental illnesses, it is more likely that women are the ones with a previous diagnosis.

Men kill in public settings and outdoors, while women kill in closed spaces, such as homes. Men, in addition, use firearms to a greater extent, and women tend to use suffocation or knives.

With these data from previous works, authors carry out a study with the intention of delving into the differences between one type of homicide and the other, but not limited to a specific area such as couple cases or filicides.

To do this, they analyze cases corresponding to 577 homicides resolved by the Spanish Civil Guard between 2013 and 2018 (95.5% of the total cases registered in those years).

What were the results obtained?

In the first place, it should be noted that female perpetrators constituted a 9.8% of the total perpetrators analyzed. Of this percentage, 3 out of 4 were homicides committed by women in the family environment, highlighting the cases of filicide.

Regarding the gender of the victims, it was surprisingly observed that women predominantly kill men, and not women as it was believed; while in men, the opposite occurs. Women would also prefer young people, so in those cases where the victim is a young man, the homicide is more likely to have been committed by a woman.

Regarding the psychosocial profile, women kill victims who can be considered vulnerable, either because of what we have just mentioned about youth, or because these victims may exhibit some type of mental illness or difficulty to a greater extent than the victims of men.

Regarding the perpetrators, the information provided by the authors’ study is that women are, on average, somewhat older than men, but the difference is not significant.

An important finding that confirms conclusions from previous research is that, to a greater extent than men, women tend to present or be diagnosed with mental disorders at the time of the incident. On the other hand, men are more frequently under the influence of substances.

An interesting finding is that women tend to commit homicides during the afternoon. They are not usually carried out in the presence of witnesses, probably because, as we have already seen, they prefer closed spaces.

Also, as other research suggested, it appears that women tend to displace bodies. This can be explained because most of their victims are relatives and they may choose to displace the body as a method of disengagement; on the other hand, given that underage victims are associated with women, their bodies are easier to move.

There seems to be a consensus that firearms are used primarily by men and suffocation methods by women. Of the 100 cases in the study in which firearms were used, only 1 involved a female aggressor.

In terms of post-homicide behaviors of perpetrators, studies suggest that women remain on the scene and tend to confess more frequently than men.

This study provides an interesting basis on which to further investigate the differences between homicides by men and those by women. Although an existing limitation could be that, we know that women mainly commit homicides in the family environment, but are there differences between family homicides committed by women and men?

On the other hand, it is still necessary to develop studies that include the analysis of other variables, such as whether or not there is a prior relationship between victim and perpetrator. The authors talk about this point as an idea from which future research could start.

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Criminology

The closer, the better: do criminals choose the location of their crimes based on their routine? Forensic Science Club

By 4 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Relationships Between Offenders’ Crime Locations and Different Prior Activity Locations as Recorded in Police Data”, by Curtis-Ham, S.; Bernasco, W.; Medvedev, O. N. and Polaschek, D. L. L. (2022), in which authors carry out an exhaustive study to know more about the patterns of geographical choice of criminals, to discover whether a relationship between them and the offenders’ routines exist. 

We know from routine activity theory and crime pattern theory that crimes occur when opportunity (that is, the presence of a suitable and available target) overlaps with offenders’ known locations through their routinary noncriminal activities, such as where they live, work, or socialize with family or friends.

Recent theoretical development suggests that some types of activity locations are more important than others for offenders’ crime location choices. Understanding which they are more likely to choose to commit their crimes has very important implications for crime prevention and investigation. It can help identify high-risk locations and inform the most appropriate risk management strategies. It can also help in geographic profiling for crime investigation. 

But, despite the practical importance of being able to predict, at an individual level, where a person will commit a crime, there is little research that empirically explores the extent to which various types of activity locations differ from one another in their influence on crime. 

Studies to date have only compared a limited subset of locations (e.g., the offender’s home, homes of family members, or locations of prior offenses). This study leverages a large national dataset of widely disparate locations pertaining to offenders’ pre-crime activities recorded in a police database in a previously unresearched context (New Zealand). 

Drawing on environmental psychology, crime pattern theory emphasizes the role of people’s routine activities in generating awareness of criminal opportunities. 

First, offenders might identify criminal opportunities more easily and more frequently near their places of activity, called nodes. Qualitative studies have confirmed that home, work, and other places of non-criminal activity have the potential to generate crime opportunity awareness. Recent quantitative studies have estimated the greater likelihood of offenders committing crimes near their homes, the homes of close relatives, and the locations of previous offenses, compared to other locations.

On the other hand, the role of routine activities in generating awareness of criminal opportunities means that the probability of offending tends to be highest near activity nodes and decreases with distance. This pattern of decreasing distance reflects that people are more familiar with areas closer than farther away from their activity locations, and familiarity is an important factor in the choice of crime location. 

All this also reflects the principle of least effort: in theory, people travel the shortest distance necessary to find the opportunity to commit a crime. 

The main objective of the article is to expand the understanding of how all these associations happen in reality. To do this, data on crimes and nodes of offender activity were collected from the National Intelligence Application (NIA), a New Zealand Police database. The offenses included were all residential and non-residential burglaries, commercial and personal burglaries, and extra-familial sexual offenses committed between 2009 and 2018. In addition, in all of these, an offender was identified with sufficient evidence to proceed against him/her. 

The results obtained revealed that almost all nodes were significantly and positively associated with the choice of crime location. 

Consistent with expectations based on crime pattern theory, crime was almost always more likely in the surroundings of activity nodes and decreased with distance. Crime near home showed the strongest associations, followed by immediate family homes. This information is especially relevant and novel for nonresidential burglary and extrafamilial sexual offenses.

In addition, it appears that individuals are more likely to offend near immediate family homes versus more distant relatives’ and intimate partners’. 

These findings, the authors note, are interesting because they may help to identify more accurately who is more likely to have committed a crime in a particular location, given the nature of the crime.

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Criminal profiling

Homicide Profiles Based on Crime Scene and Victim Characteristics. Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Homicide Profiles Based on Crime Scene and Victim Characteristics” by Pecino-Latorre, M. M.; Pérez-Fuentes, M. C. and Patró-Hernández, R. M., in which authors try to identify the homicides characteristics based on observed behaviors at the crime scene and the victim.

Criminal profiling is a very complex field of study that has been object of interest of many experts during the last years, due to its efficacy when it’s about solving crimes.

And as complex as criminal profiling is the area in which its application is the most important and spectacular: homicide cases.

Homicide cases have gained considerable academic and professional interest, not only because is the most violent of the criminal behaviors but also because they have enormous impact on the victim’s relatives and, besides, the whole society.

These cases are extremely difficult since it is a criminal category that includes distinct variants with dynamic characteristics and specific psychological processes related to the criminal, the victim, the context of both, etcetera; and this is hard to investigate.

That is why in previous research, studying each case independently has been recommended: examine specific aspects, their details, instead of seeking out general associations.

There is an approach that has become more important in the past few years, in which the idea of the traditional criminal profiler changes. It is suggested that from now on, the profiler could try to base the criminal’s profile on elements of the crime that allow him/her to create hypothesis of what are the criminal’s potential characteristics, thus a more rigorous suspect prioritization is possible.

Some authors from previous research have focused on analyzing the differences in modus operandi according to the perpetrator’s gender. For example, it was found that men tend to kill more women and people they know, whereas women use to kill more frequently members of their families.

Regarding the crime weapon, men are more likely to use firearms, while women tend to use suffocation methods on their victims.

Other interesting data that authors mention, is that it has been observed that, in the case of perpetrators who previously knew their victims, there tends to be a greater number and seriousness of injuries, with the homicides tending o take place indoors and most often using bladed weapons or blunt objects.

Namely, there are lots of studies where it has been shown that it is useful to study details and elements of the homicide to infer the criminal’s characteristics. Because of that, authors of this paper wondered which data of the crime, of the behavior observed in the crime scene and in the victims, are associated with the perpetrator of simple homicide in Spain, which is the place in which the study took place.

The study included a total sample of 448 cases of simple homicide that were studied using statistics software. The 90,8% were committed by men. A 9,2%, by women.

Obtained results are consistent with the central postulate of criminal profiling, that is, on the basis of homicide elements –crime scene, modus operandi, victim characteristics– it is possible to hypothesize about the potential characteristics of the perpetrator, which helps make decisions to establish more rigorous suspect prioritization.

Some of the data obtained in the study were, firstly, that there is a greater probability that the perpetrator will be female when the victim is a minor and when suffocation methods are used to commit the homicide. Plus, women would be more associated with intra-family homicides and the most common victims would be their children.

We see how the results agree so far with previous studies.

Research also shows that there is a greater probability that the aggressor is Spanish when the victims also are –remember the study was made in Spain–, just as it is more likely for the perpetrator to be a foreigner when the victim is also a foreigner.

As for the existence of a criminal record, the results suggest that perpetrators with a criminal record tend to use precautionary measures to avoid identification. Similarly, perpetrators with a criminal record commit more homicides in outdoor locations. Moreover, perpetrators with a record of violent crimes and sexual aggressions are more likely to have victims aged between 19 and 35.

Authors point out that some limitations exist. For instance, the conclusions derived from the study cannot be generalized to other types of homicides, since only simple homicides and those with perpetrators over the age of 18 were considered. In addition, the database did not include detailed information on the scene of the crimes, location of injuries, or circumstances in which the cadaver was found, so future studies should include these variables.

This investigation shows how important is to pay attention to victimology. It is essential in criminal investigation, due to victim characteristics, modus operandi, crime scene, etcetera, give us very powerful information about perpetrators.

Authors sum up with the idea that results are based in empirical evidence, thus future research should go also in this direction, correcting the limitations in this paper.

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Criminal analysis and forensic psychology are essential in solving complex cases. If you want to become a true specialist in this field, we invite you to explore our Master in Criminal Profiling. This online program allows you to learn from anywhere and earn a degree from Evidentia University, a licensed university in the United States.

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Criminology

Which are the factors that influence a minor to commit serial murders? Forensic Science Club

By 4 Mins Read
cropped view of killer washing knife in sink after murder

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Youth Serial Killers: Psychological and Criminological Profiles”, by García-Baamonde, M. E.; Blázquez-Alonso, M.; Moreno-Manso, J. M.; Guerrero-Barona, E. and Guerrero-Molina, M. (2022), in which authors make a revision of previous literature on youth that has committed serial murders, to know some interesting data to elaborate their criminal profiles. 

The phenomenon of serial murders occupies a unique place in the field of criminology, but also in the criminal justice system, especially when the perpetrators of these and other types of violent crimes are minors.

In addition, there is a great lack of understanding of the phenomenon of serial murders. The issue is surrounded by great media sensationalism that always arises around the question of whether serial killers are born or made.

On the other hand, there are many media that classify those who commit these crimes as “monsters” or “demons”, this being one more part of the media circus that surrounds these cases both at the judicial and social levels. This contributes and feeds the collective mentality influenced by the media that does not skimp on giving details about the crimes and that, sometimes, can even turn the perpetrators into celebrities.

In order to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of serial murders, their extent and seriousness, and focusing on those committed by young people, authors carried out a review of the literature on the topic. 

Authors consider that legal and social problems do not occur only in cases in which young people or minors commit serial murders, but since they commit violent crimes.

Despite the terminology often used by the media, young offenders are not monsters or beasts, and often have no criminal record.

Sometimes these first crimes take place because they cannot refuse peer pressure. Normally, there will usually be an explanation.

One thing that strikes the authors, and is of particular concern to them, is that since the mid-1980s and around the early 1990s, there has been an unprecedented growth in youth homicides. The data suggests that young people are currently involved in more crimes than previous generations.

The most common case is these young people belonging to street gangs, a very particular criminal phenomenon, since it has specific variables that make it different from the rest of juvenile delinquency.

Based on these data, the psychosocial and criminological profile of young people who commit homicides is not comparable to the criminal profile of common murderers. 

It should also be mentioned that cases of serial killers where the perpetrators are children or young people are, of course, much less frequent than cases of adults.

Some of these young people come from broken families where they are not able to acquire a stable personality. Thus, they continually seek to satisfy their desires through fantasies of domination and control.

Similarly, some may have experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, often simultaneously.

Research on the impact of child maltreatment on violent behavior has shown that maltreatment and exposure to violence, in any form, is an important predictor of criminal behavior.

On the other hand, psychopathy appears, which we all know, and which generates serious problems in the affective, interpersonal and behavioral dimension of humans, so much that psychopaths can victimize others without their ethical awareness being affected.

Many features of psychopathy begin to emerge in childhood and can be more or less easily identified, as well as in adolescence and young adulthood. For this reason, attention should be paid to minors who experience risk factors such as mental health problems, problems in their upbringing, a history of substance abuse, very intense impulsiveness, emotional instability, total absence of guilt, etc.

This article has some limitations. For example, there is a low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, which makes it difficult to study these specific cases, so the analysis should be taken with caution.

If you’ve always dreamed of understanding criminal minds and applying your knowledge to solving crimes, you can now make that a reality. The Master in Criminal Profiling prepares you to work in the fascinating world of forensic science. Study 100% online from anywhere in the world and earn a degree from Evidentia University, a licensed university in the United States.

The U.S. education system is globally recognized for its prestige and quality, ensuring you receive top-tier training. And the best part, you can do it from just $208 a month!

If you want to know more about the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Certificate in Criminal Profiling, a 100% online program certified by Heritage University (USA), with special grants for the Forensic Science Club readers.

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Criminal profiling

Risk factors for the criminal career of sexual offenders compared to other type of offenders. Forensic Science Club

By 4 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Non-intimate Relationships and Psychopathic Interpersonal and Affective Deficits as Risk Factors for Criminal Career: a Comparison Between Sex Offenders and Other Offenders”, by Ferretti, F.; Pozza, A.; Carabellese, F.; Schimmenti, A.; Santoro, G.; Mandarelli, G.; Gualtieri, G.; Carabellese, F.; Catanesi, R. and Coluccia, A. (2021), in which authors carry out a study to know how the non-intimate relationships and psychopathic interpersonal an affective deficits can work as risk factors that affect the criminal career of sexual offenders, comparing them to other offenders.

Since the beginning of Criminology, the criminals’ personal history, the development pattern of their careers and the risk factors that lead them to these destinations have always been considered a topic of great interest.

For example, the relationship between the traumatic experiences of victims of sexual abuse and the emergence of dysfunctional sexual behaviors was investigated by numerous experts, leading to the conclusion that other underlying causes of sexual crimes should be sought, because the victim/aggressor paradigm is too reductionist.

Attention has also been paid to psychiatric disorders, which play an important role; in the case of sex offenders especially schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and mood and personality disorders.

On the other hand, psychopathy appears, whose relevance in criminal behavior and violent behavior is widely recognized in the literature. It is generally assessed using the Revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R), which covers the factors of interpersonal and affective deficits and antisocial behavior.

The association of psychopathy with sexual crimes is not new. In a study mentioned in the article, it was found that the presence of psychopathy in sexual offenders constitutes a predictive factor of criminal recidivism in this but also other types of crimes.

Other studies have shown that the relational failures of caregivers and attachment figures, can lead the child to experience difficulties in their interpersonal self-regulation. These difficulties can constitute a risk for adults by promoting aggressive behaviors, difficulties in emotional regulation and sexual problems, as can be found in many cases of psychopathy, sadism and paraphilias.

As we can see, there is such a variety of ideas that it is difficult to accurately identify the risk factors that can affect the dysfunctional sexual behavior of sex offenders.

The objective of this study was to explore the relevance of life events in the criminal outcome, comparing sexual offenders with other types of offenders. Experiences related to violence problems, antisocial behaviors, personal relationship problems, substance use, traumatic experiences and parenting styles were studied.

A total of 88 sex offenders and 102 people serving sentences for other types of crimes participated.

Among sex offenders, most of the inmates (76%) served time for child abuse.

In the category of other offenders, were convicts serving time for murder, assault, crimes against property and against the state, but not sexual crimes.

A set of items from the HCR-20 V3 scale was used to evaluate risk factors.

Non-sexual offenders were found to be more likely to have a history of violence and antisocial behavior problems in adolescence and adulthood, along with substance abuse problems. Only one risk factor, the absence of problems in non-intimate relationships, differentiates the criminal career of non-sexual offenders and sexual offenders.

These non-intimate relationships are defined as bonds with family members, friends, or acquaintances, which do not involve any type of sexual dimension. Social isolation, emotional distance, instability, conflict, manipulation of others, inappropriate sexualization, and violence in non-intimate relationships are indicators to consider.

Compared with the group of non-sexual offenders, sexual offenders showed higher levels of interpersonal and affective psychopathic deficits, and lower levels of antisocial behaviors.

With this study the importance of poor non-intimate relationships in predicting the criminal career of sex offenders is confirmed. Above all, inappropriate sexualization, violence and the escalation of problems are important in this context.

Authors consider that treatment programs for sex offenders should be aimed at preventing recidivism, and therefore should address these deficits in non-intimate relationships, and target psychopathic traits, specifically interpersonal and affective traits. For example, through cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been shown to be an effective treatment for psychopathic traits.

If you want to know more about the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Certificate in Criminal Profiling, a 100% online program certified by Heritage University (USA), with special grants for the Forensic Science Club readers.

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Criminology

Differences between serial rapists and single-victim rapists regarding their modus operandi. Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Predicting rapist type based on crime-scene violence, interpersonal involvement, and criminal sophistication in U.S. stranger rape cases”, by Mellink, I. S. K.; Jeglic, E. L. and Bogaard, G. (2022), in which authors carry out a study in which they investigate the particularities of serial rapists and single-victim rapists cases, to know which are the proper elements of each case and make a comparative analysis that helps in the criminal profile of similar cases. 

Sexual violence is a serious public health problem worldwide. Only in the United States, one in six women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Therefore, there appears to be an urgent need to better understand those who commit sexual assault in order to increase conviction rates. 

Physical evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints found at the crime scene, is often not found or, if found, may not be conclusive. Therefore, if we establish a link between the crime and the offender using other means, it will be valuable to the investigation by narrowing the list of potential suspects. 

Criminal profiling is one of many techniques that aid in the process of investigating, identifying, locating and arresting offenders in general and in rape cases in particular. 

In criminal profiling, crime scene characteristics are used to infer information to help narrow down the suspect list and apprehend the offender.

By attending to observable crime scene behaviors, police forces can identify clues about the type of offender they are dealing with, such as the likelihood that the offender is either a serial rapist or a single-victim rapist. 

Why is this last point important? Precisely because, if there are crime scene characteristics that associate the case with the offender being a serial rapist, this could indicate that he has committed other similar crimes, which, in turn, would give investigators the idea to search their databases for the criminal history of suspects and, thus, reduce the list of possible offenders. 

To better understand those who commit violations, offenders can be classified based on behavioral or modus operandi variables.

From the point of view of most experts, rape is viewed as an event in which the offender treats his victim similarly to how he would treat others in a non-criminal context. 

This, coupled with other findings, suggests that it is possible to link a crime and an offender by their behavior. This linkage is based on two ideas: consistency and variability. Consistency refers to the fact that a subject’s criminal behavior is consistent, meaning that the same person is likely to behave similarly in other crimes. And variability is based on the fact that two offenders will not behave in exactly the same way, which makes it possible to distinguish between them. 

Authors decide to focus on the differences that exist between serial rapists and single-victim rapists and that can be extracted based on their behavior at the crime scene. There is a dearth of empirical literature on this, but a 1987 study gives some interesting insights, such as that single-victim rapists are more likely to be known to their victims than serial rapists, and prefer to use a safe approach rather than a quick attack. With serial rapists the opposite would happen. 

In the present study, authors used data relating to the cases of 3,168 inmates in a New Jersey prison, who were serving time at the time of writing for sexual offenses. 

They found that single-victim rapists and serial rapists can, indeed, be differentiated from each other based on their behavior; and further, experts often classify the cases according to three categories: violence, criminal sophistication, and interpersonal behavior. 

Single-victim rapists are more likely to have a crime scene with violent characteristics, and are more likely to digitally penetrate and threaten their victims. 

Serial rapists, on the other hand, have a more criminally sophisticated crime scene, for instance, they incapacitate the victim or use a weapon. This is in line with previous research showing that serial rapists are more sophisticated in general. 

Serial rapists are more likely to use weapons, which tends to be a gun or knife, and, in addition to incapacitating their victim more often, as mentioned above, they also tend to groom the victim and guide or lure them somewhere. These types of rapists are also less likely to use drugs or alcohol during or immediately prior to the crime in order to remain criminally sophisticated and avoid detection, as it does not pay for them to risk their success by using these substances. 

Despite gaining some interesting insights, authors point out the need for further research on the entire criminological process of rape, from victim to perpetrator, and what is related to the crime scene, as only by knowing and understanding these data will we be able to improve prevention.

If you want to know more about the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Master of Science in Criminal Profiling or our Master of Science in Anti-Fraud Behavioral Analysis

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Criminal profiling

Do differences between the cognitive profile of a Mafia member and the cognitive profile of a regular offender exist? Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Pathological risk-propensity typifies Mafia members’ cognitive profile” by Salvato, G.; Fiorina, M. L.; De Maio, G.; Francescon, E.; Ovadia, D.; Bernardelli, L.; Santosuosso, A.; Paulesu, E. and Bottini, G. (2020), in which authors study whether differences between the cognitive profile of a Mafia member and the cognitive profile of a regular offender exist.

Organized crime is a matter of global concern, and resources and efforts are increasingly invested in order to improve its understanding and prevention.

One of the most important points of prevention is based on ways to detect it early, to avoid it or minimize its consequences.

On the other hand, regarding the understanding of the phenomenon, we already know some things. For example, we know that they are very stable organizations with a complex hierarchical structure that works according to very strict rules.

The newest members must leave behind their identity to adopt a new one. Their criminal activities, as well as their private lives, are regulated by codes of conduct that could practically be called commandments. These norms build a collective identity to which members adhere, creating a very strong and powerful cohesion.

The group is known to push individuals to carry out risky behaviors. Authors suggested two explanations for this.

First, the shared responsibility of the group. This would mean that risky decisions are perceived as more affordable.

Second, there is a persuasion, aimed at perpetrating these risky behaviors, which would be exercised by the individuals who are most influential in and for the group.

In addition, they understand that this can also occur as a way to maintain the status achieved within the group, or to get closer to the one that is intended to be achieved.

These and other characteristics distinguish organized crime from regular crime, both from a legal and social perspective.

Authors wonder if there are also differences between offenders of one type and another at the behavioral level.

They assume the following idea: it is possible that distinctive features, if any, stem from cognitive variations in frontal lobe execution functions.

This comes from previous studies, which have shown that certain executive dysfunctions of this type predict specific criminal behaviors.

However, until now it is unknown if there is a characteristic pattern of members of criminal organizations.

To answer these and other questions, authors decided to carry out an experiment in which participated 50 convicts serving time for organized crime and 50 common criminals.

In addition, a control group consisting of people with no criminal history was created to compare.

They were given tests on cognitive abilities, depression, anxiety and psychopathy, among others.

Obtained results yielded very interesting ideas. Firstly, that indeed, the affiliation to groups as dominant as the mafias, influences the behavior of their members inside and outside their professional activities.

This would be consistent with social psychology studies that show that group dynamics modulate individual behavior in general.

This would be the first difference between the two types of criminals mentioned, since people with a strong sense of belonging to a group would behave differently than those who perceive themselves as lonely individuals.

Regarding the cognitive profile, the study shows that members of organized crime gangs appear to be more likely to show a tendency to pathological risk compared to common criminals.

We are not surprised, knowing that belonging to a group seems to have an enormous influence on the emerging of this pathological behavior. This would be the most important difference between one type of criminal and another.

Authors point out that numerous prevention programs have been designed to promote the development of emotional and social skills from childhood and also adolescence, in case dysfunctional behaviors are detected.

They consider that these types of programs should be adopted much more frequently, since they are particularly effective for factors such as the pathological risk-propensity observed in this study.

As in most investigations, there are limitations. One of them is that authors consider that the people who participated in the study are not representative of the whole of society.

Although authors have achieved a partial answer to the question, it is very important to bear in mind that the criminological phenomena related to organized crime are extremely complex and, therefore, efforts and resources should continue to be allocated to research on how to prevent them.

If you’ve always dreamed of understanding criminal minds and applying your knowledge to solving crimes, you can now make that a reality. The Master in Criminal Profiling prepares you to work in the fascinating world of forensic science. Study 100% online from anywhere in the world and earn a degree from Evidentia University, a licensed university in the United States.

The U.S. education system is globally recognized for its prestige and quality, ensuring you receive top-tier training. And the best part, you can do it from just $208 a month!

Becoming an expert in criminal profiling is not just a dream, it’s a real possibility with the Master in Criminal Profiling. This online program allows you to study at your own pace, from anywhere, while earning a degree from Evidentia University, a licensed university in the United States.

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Criminology

Risk factors of criminal behavior in young offenders. Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Criminal Behavior and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Brazilian Adolescent Offenders: An Exploratory Latent Class Analysis” by Galinari, L. S. and Rezende Bazon, M. (2021), in which authors carry out a study in which they try to stablish a typology of young offenders in the Brazilian context, considering their criminal and personal characteristics.

In last week’s paper we explored the topic of juvenile offenders in relation to recidivism.

This week we focus on a study that asks whether it is possible to establish a typology of young offenders to make easier their treatment and reintegration, in the context of Brazil.

Norms in most of the world advocate for a justice system that is different for adults and for adolescents. This means that it is usually considered that adolescence is a phase of human development in which an individual is subjected to quick and simultaneous transformations both physically and psychologically.

Therefore, adolescents are a vulnerable segment of population when we talk about deviant behaviors because they are highly susceptible to changes. This is due to the great neuropsychological plasticity of the moment of development in which they are.

This is why most judicial systems conceive juvenile justice not only as a way to make them responsible for their actions, but also as a way to help young people complete their psychosocial development through treatments that focus in their social reintegration and in reducing the chances of recidivism.

Previous research has pointed out the need to focus on personal aspects (impulsivity, substance abuse, antisocial attitudes…) and micro-social aspects (family ties, parenting practices, school absenteeism…) of adolescents to understand their criminality.

However, young people in the justice system represent a heterogeneous group, with different problems and different needs. Therefore, the effectiveness of interventions and studies in this field is conditioned by their adaptation and personalization to this heterogeneity.

In previous studies, juvenile offenders have been repeatedly identified with a pattern characterized by a high frequency of low-severity crimes, poverty, poor family relationships, and poor academic performances.

However, authors of the article want to go further and they try to establish a slightly more precise typology.

To do this, they take a sample of 400 young offenders. All of them are men, due to the fact that they are significantly more numerous in the juvenile justice system of Brazil, where the study was carried out. The average age was almost 17 years.

For the analysis of their cases, different psychosocial questionnaires with scientific validity were used.

With the obtained results authors are able to make a classification of four types of juvenile offenders, although they point out that precautions must be taken regarding the typology, since each person and case has its peculiarities.

There is a profile called C1 that refers to adolescents who, although they have been prosecuted for some crime, are not different from adolescents who have not, in essence. There are also no significant differences in terms of their exposure to social and personal variables that we can consider criminogenic.

In this profile there is a recurrence to deal with unpleasant thoughts linked to aspects perceived as negative about oneself and/or their relationships. As a result, these adolescents will tend to repress these emotions.

With this profile, these young people would have few intervention needs. Authors advise an intervention that does not have to do with justice, or a mild judicial intervention.

Subsequently, the C2 profile appears. This refers to adolescents who, despite having a more important criminal participation than the adolescents in C1 group, show a pattern of behavior characterized by a low crime frequency and the absence of violent crimes.

However, in this profile there are important scores for social maladjustment and alienation. That is, they are young people with antisocial beliefs and values, and with distrust of others.

These adolescents need interventions focused on these behaviors and assistance in prosocial socialization settings. In addition, considering their low danger, less restrictive measures should be approved for them.

The profile called C3 refers to adolescents who present a greater criminal commitment, with a crime frequency and diversity of crimes above the average, plus, these crimes tend to be violent.

These young people have a history of family violence and negative school relationships. However, no special difficulties stand out on a psychological level.

This type of adolescents should participate in interventions focused on improving their family and school relationships and, if at any time they have a significant criminal commitment, authors consider necessary a more intense judicial measure.

Finally, the C4 profile appears. These adolescents present a score above the average in frequency and diversity of violent crimes, as well as in social and personal risk variables. They would have very little attachment to their parents, behavioral problems at school, episodes of family violence, and criminal records in their families.

On the other hand, they would also move through environments of social maladjustment, they would manifest aggressiveness, antisocial orientation, low impulse control, skepticism, and distrust towards others.

These people have much more complex needs. They should focus primarily on controlling antisocial attitudes and improving their self-control. They also need intervention in social aspects, especially in the development of family relationships. Once they commit a serious crime, if it happens, intense and restrictive measures may be necessary.

The authors highlight that more than 40% of the adolescents who participated in the study were classified in the C4 category.

For future research, authors consider that the different proposed profiles can be of great help, especially to organize the interventions in a more appropriate way. Furthermore, it is important to propose, implement and evaluate intervention protocols that always bear in mind the heterogeneity in adolescent offenders.

If you want to know more about the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Certificate in Criminal Profiling, a 100% online program certified by Heritage University (USA), with special grants for the Forensic Science Club readers.

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Criminal profiling

Psychosocial characteristics of juvenile offenders in a detention centre regarding recidivism risk. Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Psychosocial and Personality Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders in a Detention Centre regarding Recidivism Risk” by Cacho, R.; Fernández-Montalvo, J.; López-Goñi, J. J.; Arteaga, A. and Haro, B. (2020), in which authors carry out a study to know the different profiles of young offenders in detention centres, focusing in recidivism.

We consider juvenile delinquency as a serious problem that affects us all, since one of the worries of society should be how to protect young people from being both victims and perpetrators of crimes.

The juvenile offense rate is very high: 80% of adolescents have committed at least one criminal act in their life (from minor to serious ones).

In the search for explanatory reasons for the phenomenon, different actors have been associated with criminal behavior, both personal (such as impulsivity) and related to school, family or friends.

Previous literature suggests that young minors convicted because of criminal offenses have socialization problems, deficits in emotional intelligence, and inadequate coping strategies.

In addition, an important characteristic that has to do with recidivism is that crimes they commit are progressively more serious and frequent. This would be promoted by peer pressure, gang membership, lack of autonomy when solving problems or impulsiveness.

Youth at high risk of recidivism have also been suggested to have higher rates of school failure and conduct disorder, as well as poor social skills, compared to offenders at low risk of recidivism.

Other factors that, in principle, influence the criminal recidivism of young people would be the family (family violence, drug addiction, labor or economic difficulties), as well as the lack of adherence to intervention programs.

The Spanish juvenile justice system, which is the one used in the context of the study (Navarra, Spain), establishes that juvenile offenders are those who have committed a crime between the ages of 14 and 18. For them, internment in detention centers is foreseen when the crime committed is of a serious nature and is characterized by violence, intimidation, or by putting other people in danger. The objective of these centers is to punish offenders, but also to facilitate the educational intervention necessary for their social reintegration.

In Spain, the recidivism rate is 62-70% for those who have served custodial sentences. It is a much higher rate than the one of those who have served sentences in open settings, which is 22-27%.

Therefore, authors consider necessary an exhaustive evaluation of the factors that predict criminal recidivism and also to study the specific profile of juvenile offenders who are in detention centers.

Authors decide to carry out a study whose objective is to describe juvenile offenders serving judicial sentences in the only detention center in Navarra, Spain.

To do this, they take a sample of 102 juvenile offenders to carefully study each one of their cases.

Obtained results reveal relatively low levels of risk of recidivism in the subjects studied. None of the adolescents presented a significantly high level of risk, being for the majority from low to moderate. These results contrast with the rates of criminal recidivism found in other studies about minors, according to which two out of every three reoffend. Therefore, it is necessary that future studies evaluate to what extent the previous literature corresponds to the Spanish context.

Most of the minors had problems related to education, both in the academic and family spheres, and previous contact with social services. It is necessary to point out that the school and the family constitute the main axes of socialization of children and adolescents. On the contrary, positive school experiences and family support are protective factors that help minimize criminal behavior.

The young people presented mainly four personality traits: rebellious, dramatic, selfish, and forceful. They also exhibited a high degree of social insensitivity. There was a high predisposition to crime and substance use.

Adolescents with a higher risk of recidivism have more personal characteristics (health problems, low self-esteem, poor social skills, difficulty solving problems, violent history), social (family history of alcoholism or other drug abuse) and school problems than those who have a lower risk.

In addition, these young people with a higher risk of recidivism are less submissive, have a more negative own body image and less social sensitivity. There would be a greater inclination to substance abuse, greater predisposition to delinquency, feelings of anxiety and eating disorders.

Therefore, intervention programs must assess the presence of a history of prior violent behavior and develop specific measures to train problem-solving skills and promote adequate academic performance.

One of the limitations of the study, is the small size of the sample, and that it only addresses a population in a very specific context: juvenile offenders in detention centers in Navarra, Spain. For future research, authors point out that it would be interesting to expand the sample.

Found data support the idea that specific educational interventions are necessary in juvenile detention centers with the aim of providing these adolescents with skills that allow them to reintegrate into society and reduce the probability of recidivism. To do this, understanding the specific characteristics of these people at higher risk would be essential.

If you want to know more about criminology, the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Certificate in Criminal Profiling, a 100% online program certified by Heritage University (USA), with special grants for the Forensic Science Club readers.

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Uncategorized

Can we consider lone terrorists and mass murderers as similar criminals? Forensic Science Club

By 5 Mins Read

Friends of the Forensic Science Club, this week we present the paper “Similar cimes, similar behaviors? Comparing lone-actor terrorists and public mass murderers” by Gill, P.; Silver, J.; Horgan, J.; Corner, E. and Bouhana, N. (2021), in which authors wonder whether enough similarities between lone terrorists and mass murderers exist so we can consider them as similar criminals.

The study of public mass murders and lone terrorists has emerged independently as two distinct research fields in the past few years.

Previous studies about solitary terrorists (or lone wolves, as they have been called many times) suggested that they needed some kind of political, religious or social objective. Similar studies of mass murderers focused on their mental health history and precipitating events, or triggers.

But, after these studies, some experts wondered if the dividing line between the two types of criminals is so clear.

An example of this is a work cited in the article, in which it is suggested that personal grievances and stressors often play a key role in radicalizing the individual and planning the terrorist attack (which is something typical of the mass murderers, according to the existing literature). On the other hand, it is found that the presence of political impulses and social factors is also becoming a determining motivation in school shootings recently (this would be a typical factor for lone terrorists).

That is why some experts have concluded that it would be more useful to discuss mass murderer violence and terrorist attacks under a common framework of demonstrative violence than to assign them to such exclusive classes of violence.

Given the possibility of being able to consider both types of crime as one, or as very similar crimes, authors decided to carry out a study. In it, they collect information from open sources on the internet, limiting themselves to events after 1990 to be as actual as possible.

The obtained results provide us with interesting information. For example, men largely dominate both types of crime. There was also little difference in marital status at the time of the crime: most of them were single (37% and 43%).

Lone terrorists were significantly more educated than mass murderers. Two-thirds of terrorists, compared to only 24% of mass murderers, received some kind of college education.

Lone terrorists were much more likely to have military experience, criminal convictions, change addresses before their attack, live alone, be socially isolated, show increased anger, and possess weapons.

Mass murderers were more likely to have a history of substance abuse, to experience degradation or abuse by others on a regular basis or in the previous moments to the attack, to have relationship problems with other people, to experience specific and chronic stress, and to have some type of relationship or history with the place of the event.

Regarding mental disorders, there were no significant differences (39% and 41%). Nor were there any in relation to warning about the attack before it happened (26% and 19%).

Overall, authors consider the idea that lone terrorists and mass murderers are not that different from each other. There are more things that unite them than things that separate them.

More than 180 variables were studied, and in none of them significant differences were observed. For the most part, they are similar people, with similar mobilization pathways, who commit violent acts that do not differ too much, but with slightly different motivational structures.

Experts argue that, instead of focusing on criminal typologies to talk about these people, it could be more useful to see the degree of loneliness they exhibited, the external directives that the offender received and the depth of the political motivations of him/her, if any.

This finding may have important implications for professionals in this field. For example, after a public mass murder, not claimed by any terrorist organization, investigators should not rule out the possibility that the offender was politically or religiously motivated.

Where authors see consistent differences between the two types of criminals is in the flights. Authors believe that this has to do with the support that offenders receive. Ideologies naturally have more followers than personal grievances. In other words, where there is a large presence of people who share the same ideology, there is a greater probability that some form of flight will occur.

In conclusion, results demonstrate that many of the major potential risk factors are equally common among lone terrorists and mass murderers. This is especially important for crime prevention policies and protocols, and therefore for criminology, which could consider these findings from now on for the study of these crime typologies.

If you want to know more about criminology, the criminal mind, criminal profiling, and forensic science, don’t miss our Certificate in Criminal Profiling, a 100% online program certified by Heritage University (USA), with special grants for the Forensic Science Club readers.

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Forensic Science Club